Georgia tailback Todd Gurley speaks to the media at the Southeastern Conference NCAA college football media days, Thursday, July 17, 2014, in Hoover, Ala.

HOOVER, ALA. | Todd Gurley, perhaps the best player at the 2014 SEC Media Days, is quiet by nature and had an average following of media as he rotated through the different rooms on Thursday. It’s a stark contrast from last year, when Texas A&M’s Johnny Manziel had a mob of television cameras following his every move.

Gurley is part of a two-headed monster in the Bulldogs’ backfield. Along with Keith Marshall, Gurley burst on the scene in his freshman year in 2012 and the two combined to be the most productive duo of freshmen running backs in school history. Their efforts produced 25 total touchdowns, and Gurley was the first freshman since Herschel Walker in 1980 to rush for 1,000 yards.

Last season, Gurley missed three games during the middle of his sophomore season but still came close to the 1,000-yard mark, rushing for 989 yards. His average of 98.9 yards per game was good enough for fourth in the conference. But as talented as he’s been off the field, it’s his leadership that needed to come of age.

“I’ve gotten a lot better this summer,” Gurley said. “I speak up a lot, just trying to help my teammates out. Workouts are tough, and I definitely am hurting myself. But I look to my right and my left and see my teammates hurting. I have to do it for them because it’s not all about you. I have to speak my mind and just help them get better.”

He said that being overly vocal “just isn’t him,” but he recognized the impact he has on his teammates. It’s something Georgia coach Mark Richt acknowledges. From the moment he stepped on campus, Richt said, Gurley had an impact.

“I think Todd understands that he is a big part of the leadership of this team,” Richt said. “And I think the best thing he can do for us is work hard every day and buy into what we’re doing. But if every once in a while he wants to say ‘let’s go,’ then I think the guys will respond to him in a good way.”

Expectations around Gurley will be through the roof when Georgia opens its season against Clemson on Aug. 30. Only two running backs have won the Heisman Trophy since 2000, but Gurley is on the short list of players who could bring home the award.

“Todd is the best running back in the nation,” Georgia linebacker Ramik Wilson said. “You can ask anyone that, and they’ll agree with it.”